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2013 Obits – January

I started the Obituary list early this year (as you can tell). I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anyone important. Some listed here and on successive pages you may not know, some you may know. Either way, it will may you wiser for reading all of them.

Ed Koch with current NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Jan. 31: Ed Koch, 88 – Former New City mayor, who typically greeted constituents with a “How’m I doin?” died from congestive heart failure. The lawyer-turned public servant was a U.S. congressman from 1968 until he ran for mayor of New York in 1977. He served three terms until David Dinkins defeated him in a Democratic primary.

Jan. 18: Jeff Cahill, 44 – American Actor (Dangerous Minds, ER, NYPD Blue). Jeff was also well known for his artwork, in particular his untamed expressionistic mixed media paintings. His artwork sold to the likes of celebrities around the world.

Jan. 17: Robert F. Chew, 52 – The actor, best known for his role as drug kingpin Proposition Joe on the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire, died of apparent heart failure in his sleep at his home in Northeast Baltimore.

Jan. 16: Pauline Esther Phillips (aka Abigail Van Buren), 94 – the woman who founded the “Dear Abby” advice column died after battling Alzheimer’s. “Dear Abby” was the most popular and widely syndicated column in the world – known for its uncommon common sense and youthful perspective.

Jan. 15: Dan Edelman, 93 – PR legend built world’s largest firm. Built brands such as Sara Lee, KFC, 9 Lives cat food, for which he helped make Morris the Cat a household name.

Jan. 15: William Cullerton, 90 – A war hero, entrepreneur, radio show host and dedicated outdoorsman, for 20 years he hosted The Great Outdoors show on WGN Radio before retiring in 1999.

Jan. 15: Nagisa Oshima, 80 1932-2013 – Japanese director and screenwriter. Many say he was the most important figure of the Japanese Nuberu Bagu (“New Wave”) of the 1960s.

Jan. 15: Quenin Smith, 94 – American military pilot, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, Congressional Gold Medal Recipient (2006) and teacher.

Jan. 14: Conrad Bain, 89 – Actor, best known for his long run as Phillip Drummond on Diff’rent Strokes, died Monday, Jan. 14 in Livermore, California.

Jan. 14: Paul Droubay, 86 – American radio broadcaster at KBER, fought FCC over expanded area radio coverage.

Jan. 13: Bille Brown, 61 – Australian actor/writer/director. Performed on Broadway and the West End and in films Killer Elite, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Fierce Creatures.

Jan. 11: Aaron Swartz, 26 – American programmer and internet activist, co-creator of RSS (at age 14), died from an apparent suicide. He was facing copyright-related legal issues. In 2010, he founded DemandProgress.org, a “campaign against the Internet censorship bills SOPA/PIPA.” Swartz’ death ignited a firestorm of discussion over the Internet, where he was regarded as something of a folk hero. Hacker News, a social news site popular within the tech community saw its front page dominated with posts about Swartz for two days. On Twitter, supporters of Swartz tweeted PDFs of academic papers in tribute of Swartz’ advocacy of free information.

Jan. 9: Frank Page, 87 – American radio personality, member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, introduced Elvis Presley to the world.

Jan. 7: David R. Ellis, 60 – American Stuntman (Lethal Weapon, Scarface) and film director (Snakes on a Plane, Cellular, Shark Night 3D). He was in the process of filming Winter’s Tale and post production was in process on R.I.P.D. and 47 Ronin as second unit director.

Jan. 5: Fitzroy Newsum, 94 – American military pilot of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Jan. 5: Chandler Williams, 27 – American football player, died of cardiac arrest during a flag football game near his home town of Miami. Nearly 800 people attended his funeral (“home-going celebration”). He leaves behind his fiancee and a 2-year old daughter.

Jan. 2: Ned Wertimer, 89 – Known as Ralph The Doorman on 11 seasons of The Jeffersons, died following health complications at the Sherman Village Health Care Center in California.

Jan 2: Charles W. Blackwell, 70 1942-2013 – American Chickasaw Nation diplomat, Ambassador to the United States of America since 1995.

Jan. 2: Mamie Rearden, 114 – American supercentenarian.

Jan. 1: Ross “Satchel” Davis, 94 1918-2013 – American Negro League baseball player, pitcher. Played with the Baltimore Elite Giants in 1940, with the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1943 and 1947 and served in the USAF during World War II.

Jan. 1: Patti Page, 85 – who made “Tennessee Waltz” the third best-selling recording ever, died in Encinitas, Calif.